Horse owners with school age children

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bluewhippet

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I just wondered how you organised your day if your horse is at DIY livery.

I am very lucky in that I am a stay at home mother and so in theory have time for everything during the day, but am considering how early I can make second visit to the yard to bring in/feed etc.

Do you bring your children with you? What is your timing?

Very basic questions because I am just about to get my first horse...
 
bluewhippet said:
I just wondered how you organised your day if your horse is at DIY livery.

I am very lucky in that I am a stay at home mother and so in theory have time for everything during the day, but am considering how early I can make second visit to the yard to bring in/feed etc.

Do you bring your children with you? What is your timing?

Very basic questions because I am just about to get my first horse...
Click to expand...

In the winter I used to drop my daughter at school and be down at the yard by 9am, horses were in and done by 3pm in time to collect the child.

Summer time my daughter would maybe ride after school, but horses were out then anyway so one visit a day was sufficient.

A friend would feed early in the morning and in the evening for me (I'd do weekends etc) and everyone would cast an eye over the horses as they passed by, whether they were in or out, if anything was wrong it was either sorted out or the owner was informed.

The horses adapted to their hours and were all quite happy, many people at the yard had school age children and we all helped each other out as a matter of course. It was no big deal to give hay or turn out/bring in extras if someone couldn't make it.
 
Thanks very much. I hope I can arrange something like that a few days' a week - it is all a bit unknown for me at the moment...
 
My younger daughter gets the school bus at 8.20 so i run the dogs up the field and then get to the yard 9ish. In winter I also get my horse in around 3 before collecting my daughter off the bus at 3.30. Once the clocks change it can be a juggling act for a few weeks and she often comes to the yard with me to feed, rug etc. Then in summer I often wait til my husband is home before I go down to do him. I am lucky that my elder daughter also looks after my younger daughter at times if she doesn't fancy coming with me to the yard or it's really cold.

It is hard when the kids are very little as they get cold so quickly but if you are keen it is possible. (Ski wear and thermal boots a must!)

TBH the most difficult time is when the kids are ill and you feel torn between doing your absolute best for your kids whilst not neglecting the horse. This is where friends are invaluable.
 
Used to have elder daughter to babysit, but she's just left home now. The horses used to be turned out at 6am,mucked out and yard jobs done. Home for 7.30am in time to get the young one ready for school. Back after 9am, (16 mile round trip to yard)to exercise the horses. Back just before dark to bring in and feed.
If I didn't ride during the day,daughter would come and we'd exercise the horses in the school in 30 minutes. Evening routine would be an hour in total. Little one would come with a mini picnic and portable dvd player, wrapped in a sleeping bag in winter. This wasn't often done though, we'd try and get a babysitter instead.

This winter, we've been on grass livery. Life is a thousand times easier. Turn up when he's at school, ride and feed and do all jobs, plus vet/farrier.EDT etc. Horses very chilled, I'm no longer chasing my tail as all my energy goes directly to riding and the little one isn't impacted by me dashing off every day.
School holidays are a compromise though.
 
How old are your children?
When mine were younger ie youngest was in reception, I would generally make sure all my jobs were done before I picked him up from school so in Winter, I would only have to feed him and change rugs. My youngest is now 10, and I have moved to a far more childfriendly yard where the owner's son is the same age and they play on scooters and the trampoline and enjoy themselves so I don't need to be in such a rush!
The DVD for the car is invaluable in nasty/cold weather. Kids quite happy with a dvd and a few snacks. Although it may seem like it, they're not babies for ever and may even start to enjoy being with the horse! Good luck x
 
Thanks, my children are 4 and 7. I know some of the time they won't mind coming out with me and they do love horses - older one rides - and I have picked a very laid back child-friendly, child-populated stables. And I do intend to get all the hard work done in the day. Very reassuring Kirsty.

I am 44 and have longed for a horse all my life - really, and don't think I can bear to wait until the children are older when in most ways my life is very suitable to horse ownership...
 
I waited til my youngest was in reception before I started looking, and 'amazingly' I found one pretty soon! The horse had to be fantastic to deal with and brilliant with the children before I looked any further, and bless him, he was! I think your children areold enough for you to have a horse, you just need to work out how you can look after him and ride him without it getting stressful! (from your point of view and the kids). I used to sometimes go back and ride in the evenings when the boys were in bed, but quite often they were playing with toy cars and diggers in the sand while I was riding at the other end of the arena!
 
I have 3 boys, 14, 12 & 3.

2 big boys dont doo horses but my youngest is (1 out of 3 aint bad i suppose) I used to have horse in livery.. Get up at 5.30/6am go to stables feed, muck out, turn out and have evrything ready for night time. Got home about 7am just as kids start to get up, sort them out and send off to school. Then off to work. Finished at 5, pick up kids and back to stables, they would get out and help if weather fine if not they would stay in car whilst i got in, fed & changed rugs. Rode only at weekends and light evenings (summer time) Hard work but sooo worth it. Now i have own stables opposite my house so i go when kids go to school. baby comes with me or goes to mums for an hour.....If i spent time thinking now isnt the right time for a horse i would be as miserable as sin... Wouldnt change a thing... Do it, soooo rewarding xx
 
I will definitely do it - have actually fallen in love with a horse today and going back tomorrow and then vetting.

Can't believe I am actually going to have my own horse. Feel like a big kid but am trying to remember I am a very grown up mother as well!
 
My son come to the yard with me at about 7.30am and helps with turn out, then catches the buss, I then muck out, do hay, water etc and leave at 8.30 for work
 
QR......get up early:D

I work 9-5. The horses (3)are just next to the house so I have them done by 7.15 then in to sort the kids out, get myself showered- son goes by bus to secondary school (he's 13) and I drop daughter off on the way to work (she's 8)

I try and get most stable chores done in the morning so in the evenings we can ride if we want to.

You just have to be organised.
 
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